Vise block



June 16,1959

Filed April 29, 1957 3 Sheets-Shet 1 Fl'e.

INVENTOR.

LEON LiPNIO/(i L a V wmw 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IPNICKI' ENTOR.

LEaNL June- 16, 1959 1.. LIPNlCKl vI sE BLOCK Filed April 29. 1957 L. LlPNlCKl YISE BLOCK June 16, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheetfi Filed April 29, 1957 INVENTQR, L 5 ON L/P/wck/ United States Patent VIS E BLOCK icon Lipnicki, Windsor, Ontario, Canada Application April 29, 1957, Serial No. 655,636

v 3 Claims. (Cl. 816) This invention relates to fastening devices and more particularly to a vise for holding small parts.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a vise block of very simple construction having means for supporting small parts in any desired position for adjusting,setting, and balancing operations.

'It' is another object of the present invention to provide a jewelers vise block that may be held in the hand or supported upon a flat surface in which various watch parts, such as hair springs, balance wheels, and bearings may be supported during various repair operations thereon.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a vise block for jewelry repair having means for releasably supporting substantially any small part in a desired position during various operations thereon, that is self contained, compact, and of attractive design.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a vise block of the above type in which the gripping elements are of spring like construction so as to secure the work piece in a desired position without imposing damaging forces thereon.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a vise block bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and efficient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vise block made in accordance with the present invention, in operative use;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the vise block shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse cross sectional view of the vise block shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the vise block shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an exploded view of hasp and bail elements associated with the vise block.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, a vise block made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a main body or base member that is constructed from two identical elements. The upper portion 13 is preferably of stainless steel or similar material and is integrally secured, such as by cementing, to the lower portion 12 that may be constructed of a plastic or other light weight material. With the upper and lower parts bonded together, the main body provides a substantial base for supporting the operating parts of the vise.

A longitudinal slot 17 is disposed along the longitudinal central plane of the base and extends substantially one-half of the entire length of the base. This slot 17 is provided with tapering side walls which taper from a wide end adjacent the center of the block to a narrow end at one extremity of the block. A bearing block 19 is secured to the upper surface of the base adjacent to the wide end of the longitudinal slot 17. This bearing block 19 is provided with a pair of vertically spaced bores 20 that extend in a direction parallel to the transverse central plane of the base for rotatably receiving the free ends 21 of a tapered bail member 22 which is thus rotatably supported upon the bearing block for movement between an open position 22a and a closed position 22 in which it' is substantially parallel to the top surface of the base. The closed end 23 of the bail extends to one longitudinal end of the base and is adapted to underlie a hasp 25 which secures it'in the aforementioned closed position. This hasp is provided with a leg that has a longitudinal slot 24 through which a lock screw 26 extends into threaded engagement with the base 10. v The base of the hasp 25 is provided with a downwardly impressed detent 29 that is adapted to engage within the base of the L the bail from the locking position 22 to the open position 22a. Thus, any small part, such as a balance wheel 28 of a watch may be clamped between the bail 22 and the top surface of the base 10. The stafl with the table roller of the balance wheel is inserted into the longitudinal slot 17 and moved as close to the narrow end of the slot as possible. The open bail 22a is then rotated downwardly into engagement with the balance wheel and the open hasp 25a is moved downwardly to engage the closed end 23 of the bail and by exerting a slight downward pressure upon the hasp, the flexibility of the bail will permit it to bend slightly, as shown in Figure 2, so as to engage the balance wheel along the entire top surface thereof. By then tightening the lock screw 26, the parts may be secured in the operative position shown in full lines in Figures 1 and 2. In this position, any adjustments or repairs may be made to the work piece without movement thereof or damage thereto.

A transversely extending tapered slot 30 is also provided that lies along the transverse central plane of the base. This slot also tapers from one wide end to the opposite narrow end for receiving parts in the manner hereinbefore described. However, the wide end of the transverse slot 30 is substantially the same as the narrow end of the longitudinal slot 17 so that the transverse slot will accommodate smaller parts than the longitudinal slot. A hearing member 32 is secured at one side of the base 10 by means of screws 31 that extend therethrough. This bearing is also provided with a longitudinal bore 33 that rotatably receives the free ends 34 of an adjustable bail member 36 so as to permit it to be rotated between the closed position 36 and open position 36a shown in Figure 3. The closed end 37 of the bail is adapted to underlie the base leg of a hasp 39 that has a side leg which is provided with a longitudinal slot 38. A lock screw 40 extends through the slot 38 and is threaded into the base 10. Thus, the hasp 39 may be selectively moved between the locking position 39 and a released position 3911 so as to control the movements of a bail 36. The base leg of the hasp 39 is also provided with a detent 42 that engages over the closed end 37 of the bail.

A plurality of parallel bores 43 extend through the top surface of the block and are of different diameters and sizes so as to accommodate various kinds of shafts, bearings, and parts for different types of repairs and adjustments. Each of the holes 43 are provided with identifying indicia 44 which designates the size and type of the hole so that a proper fit may be readily assured. In the event that an unusually thick part is to be supported adjacent to the longitudinal slot 17, the longitudinal bail member 22 may be adjusted with respect to the bearing block 19. The free ends 21 of the bail may be retnoved from the lower bearing hole 20 and inserted into the upper bearing hole, whereupon the distance between the top surface of the base and the bail 22 will be increased. This permits alarger part to be operatively secured without unduly stressing the flexible bail member 22 or otherwise damaging the part. 4

In actual use, the vise may beheld in the hand 50, as shown inFigure l, or it may be secured to any flat surface, as may be desired. 'In either event, the relatively few number-of moving parts and simple tightening and loosening devices .permit substantially any type of part to be secured in a desired position with a minimum amount of effort. This not only produces better results, but-prevents any damage or 'loss of the work piece.

While various 'changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire 'to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is: t

1. A vise block comprising, in combination, a base, said base having portions defining a longitudinal slot along the longitudinal central plane of said base, bail means p'ivotally supported at one end of said slot, and adjustable hasp means at the opposite end of said slot re- 4 'leasa'bt en agin said bail means in a position substantially parallel to the adjacent top surface of said base to secure a part therebetween, said bail means comprising a U-shaped member, the free ends of said U-shaped member being rotatably secured to said base, and the base of said U-shaped member being adapted to underlie said respective hasp means, said hasp means comprising an L-shaped member having a side leg slidably supported 3 upon said base for movement in 'a direction perpendicular to said adjacent top sui'faceofs'aid base, and a base leg adapted to releasably overlie said base of said U-shaped member.

2. The combinationaccordin'g to claim -1, comprising adjustable lock means for permitting said movement of said L-shaped fiiei'nber.

3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein said longitudinal slot tapers in width from one wide end to the opposite narrow end.

keferences Cited in the file of-this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,687,053 'schmelzer f Aug; 24,1954 

